A30136:139
A confession of my faith and a reason of my practice
A confession of my faith and a reason of my practice, or, With who, and who not, I can hold church-fellowship, or the communion of saints
London: printed for Francis Smith, 1672
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. Even by that rule, by which they are discovered to the Church to be visible Saints; and willing to be gathered into their body and fellowship. By that word of God therefore, by which their Faith, experience, and conversation (being examined) is found Good; by that the Church should receive them into fellowship with them. Mark; Not as they practise things that are circumstantial; but as their faith is commended by a ⟨p. 79⟩word of faith, and their conversation by a moral precept. Wherefore that is observable, that after Paul had declared himself sound of faith; he falls down to the body of the Law: Receive us, saith he, we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man; he saith not, I am baptized; but I have wronged no man, &c. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20, 21. chap. 7.2. And if Churches after the confession of faith, made more use of the ten commandments, to judge of the fitness of persons by; they might not exceed by this seeming strictness christian tenderness towards them, they receive to communion.
Answ. Even by that rule, by which they are discovered to the Church to be visible Saints; and willing to be gathered into their body and fellowship. By that word of God therefore, by which their Faith, experience, and conversation (being examined) is found Good; by that the Church should receive them into fellowship with them. Marke; Not as they practise things that are circumstantial; but as their faith is commended by a ⟨p. 79⟩word of faith, and their conversation by a moral precept. Wherefore that is observable, that after Paul had declared himself sound of faith; he falls down to the body of the Law: Receive us, saith he, we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man; he saith not, I am baptized; but I have wronged no man, &c. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20, 21. chap. 7.2. And if Churches after the confession of faith, made more use of the ten commandments, to judge of the fitness of persons by; they might not exceed by this seeming strictness christian tenderness towards them, they receive to communion.